S. Korea reports 5th case of African swine fever this year

SEOUL, South Korea reported its fifth case of African swine fever (ASF) of the year Tuesday. The latest case was found at a farm in Andong, some 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul in North Gyeongsang Province. This was the first ASF case since June 15, when another North Gyeongsang town, Yeongcheon, reported the disease for pigs. The owner of the Andong farm contacted quarantine authorities after several of his 190 or so pigs died. Officials then confirmed ASF and issued a 24-hour standstill order for pig farms and related facilities in Andong and its neighboring cities and counties. Quarantine officials plan to disinfect 181 other pig farms in and around Andong. A vehicle that delivered pigs from the affected farm to the local slaughterhouse also visited 272 other pig farms, and officials will run clinical tests there as well. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo ordered emergency quarantine efforts to contain ASF and asked all relevant ministries and regional authorities to cooperate with such measures. ASF do es not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease. The farm ministry said only a small number of pigs will be culled following the latest ASF case and it won't have much of an impact on the domestic pork market. Source: Yonhap News Agency